New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-06
fR. BEECHER'S BUSY LIFE.
ALONG. ACTIVE AND USEFUL CAREER.
MS ANCESTRY. TRAINING. MINISTERIAL CAREER
AND PUBLIC SERVICES AUTHOR, LECTURER,
FDIToR AND PASTOR.

EDITOR AND PASTOR.
For details Of Mr. Beschtr's illness see nrst page
Henry Ward Beecher the eighth child OF Lyman and
Roxana Foote Beecber, was born in Litchheld, Conn
June "a, 1918. The exuberant vitality and perfect
health which characterized Mr. Beecher derived
from long line of New England ancestors nearly all
OF whom were remarkable physical prowess or IN
tell.o,ual acumen. In 1888 the most opulent colony
OF any that had arrived 10 New England cane to Eos
ton, headed by John Davenport, prominent London
clergyman with Theophilus Eaton, formerly Amoas-
eador to Denmark aud stterward Deputy Governor OF
India In this colony was Hannah Beecher widow
whose husband had died just before sailing, with her
son John. She midwife,and was urged TO come
By promise OF her husbands share in the town lot
On account OF the Antinonian controversy WHICH
originated with Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, and some
other troubles 1t was decided TO leave Boston anu
found an independent colony. This was done a'
Quinnipiac, now New-Haven, Conn.,, the site peins
chosen by reason Of its good barbor Under spread
ing oak tree growing on Hannah beecher iaho' o"i
Davenport preached the first sermon heard in New
HAGEN Anril IS. 1888. John Beechcr's son Joseph
married n Pomeroy and was noted for his wonderful
strength which he proved to admrDg friends by lit
iop barrel OF cider and drinking from the bunghole
Nathaniel Beecher the Of Joseph, Was hrswny
ak tooter also able litt barrol of cider lie was
q black smith and his anvil stood upon the stuInp OF
the old oak under which Davenport preached the
fret sermon. He married Sarah Sperry an exceedingly
pious woman of Welsh descent. Nathaniel Beechers
son David although not tall as his father rcsem
bled him In being blacksmith and IN his ability to
lit and carry barrels OF cider He considered one
OF the best read men in England, being parcu-
arly we'll yersed in astronomy, geography ana history
He was constantly interested in politics and counted
Roger Sherman among his friends. Foi the time he
Ill. aaIf h. (fanaf
arguing with the college Students and representatives
TO tho Legislature Who boarded at his house, he is re-
presented as having been equally fond OF humor and
harmless Jokes. He was i've times married His third
vita. Esther LYMAN was OF Scotch descent aud was
motel for her joyous and hopeful temperament as well
a. her strong mind and excellent character She WAS
ths mother OF Lyman Beecher, Henry Ward Beecher's
father who was born October II. 1873. of the
twelve children born to David Beecher, all but Tour
died In infancy. As the mother or Lyman beccher
died two days after his BIRTH lie was taken to the
house OF his uncle Lot Benton, in North Guiiford
where his early years passed By the aid OF his
uncle who afterwsrd made him his heir. Lyman
Beecher prepared tor college at Guiltord, New as
and West Haven. and was graduated tom Yale IN
1897. He afterward studied theology under Presi-
dent Dwight. In 1898 no was ordained pastor OF q
churci at East Hampton, L. l.. where he remained
twelve years. removing in 1910 to the OF the first
church In Iitch6eld, Conn, where he preached for
sixteen years.
In 1925, shen the spread OF Unitaranism was caus-
ing many defections from the sncient Puritan iai,h
DE-. Beecher chosen the champion OF orthodoxy
and installed the Hanover Street Church in Bos
ton Here his preaching resulted in revival OF the
spirit and increase in the number OF -ecal CHRIS
tiaus In 1882 he took Charge OF the Lane Theological
Seminar, at Cincinnati remaining ten years, and then
returned to Boston, where he nvcd until 1s56. when
DO removed to Brooklyn. Here his death occurred
January 10, 1s 63. His fame as theolosan. orator.
writer ana leader in greet moral movems mis-, suen
Is the temperance and anti-sla,ery causes, Is wei
known. He was three times mIried AID was the
father of thirteen chdren-among them Catherine,
who WAS prominent in female education EDWARD
Bcac,er writer teacher ana pastor and Harriet
Beeeler Stowe. author.
EARLY DAYS.
Henry Ward BeechsI was one OF the three youngest
OF the thirteen children. His mother died when he
was three years old and Harre. Porter Dr. Beechers
seesnd WIFE, 10 represented to have been lady OF such
dignity that her influence somewhat depressing
p,,on children ful. OF animal spirits and yigor Toys
and holidays were The lite OF the minister's
children as characterized by al almost Spartan Sim
plicty whieh, with the winds aud SHOWS oil the noun
Tain town. developed ruggedness, energy ana seir'l
ance In Henry these traits were especially strong
Tne nine year old 90, vowed t. go through nnuS'i
ally severe winter Without wearing an OVcIeoat ana
wnsn a droutb eame in the dead OF winter lie har-
messed the horse TO sled and started on three mes
over bleak hills TO ill barrel with water lhe fst
stems in his education were taken at a w do" Kill
bourne's, where he percbed upon bench Tor sew
eral idle hours daily, only called upon twice each Gay
to say hIs letters. When these were learned he was
graduated to little implanted district sehooi house
near the PAL sonage where lie exercised IN reading
the Bible and The Columbian Orator" III elementary
arithmetic and handwriting. .
A he III.
used to hard work and habtuated too, to hear the
great questions Calvinism daily discusse' IN his
home and to argue upon th u himself lie was poor
writer and worse speer. speaking indlstincIy' ana
basnfal to the verge Of stupidity. At this lime be
entered private school IN Bethlehem, unoer the
charge OF the Rev. DIR. LaDgdon and there showed the
strength OF bis opinions BY VIGOROUSLY defending the
Bible in q debate with schoolmate who argued from
Paine's Age OF Reason" All OF Mr. Bcechers boy
hood las ell hs later lite, characterized by an
intense love OF nature aud iondness amount NJ almost
to passion Tor being out vi doors AT bethlehem ne
spent wander ing about the Old orchards OF IN
the deep woods. The melancholy which formed the
dee per side OF the boys mature often bnried out
Of sight by equally natural constantly eher'eseng
spirit OF fun. When alter an unprobtsbie year al
Bet hem he transferred TO his sisters school
for young ladies at Hartford, he quickly gained the
reputation OF being an nyeterate joker aDa an IN
different scholar.
Al the age OF twelve his father removed to Boston
aud Henry entered the Boston Latin school But
year OF dry study made him moody and nervous "nd
1esess. AT his fathers suggestion. he began 10 ica"-
biogf hies the lives OF travellers, sailors ana COM
snanders Carried away by their deeds oil daring and
enterprise, he wrote TO br"ther has resolve TO go 10
sea- with or without his fathers permission. DIR.
Seeeher read this letter and shIewdly bdmorins bis
sons ext ressed desire to he uidshipman and after
ward a commander rc,ninc ed him that training IN
mathematics and navigation essential and prom
ised to send him to Mount PoasaD; in Amherst Tor his
Preparatory studies. But when the next week came
and lenry started TOR Mount Pleasant, Dr. Beecher
said wisely TO another member of the family
shall have that boy in the ministry yet AT this
school the boy was put through systematic course
nj Professor r.. Love
veloped hts voice and taught him the oi gesuIes
and the proper management OF his body. Mr Beecher
ALWAYS considered that the removal of lis natural
disabilities without which he could have Mt aimed no
auecess as a speaker, due entirely TO Professor
lowell
RESOLVING TO ENTER THE MINISTRY
religious revival took place at the school in the
,ourse oil Heury's first year, which crysallized into
s. Ia6n;.a 4orro Lin laen sensihiliti.a and yagna